MATHS ANXIETY IN ADULTS

“So sorry - how much change did you say you needed? Maybe you can count it out and just check that again… sorry!”

How can I be the only one who doesn’t know how the scoring works! “Who’s winning again?”

I’m never going to be able to work this out - I’m always going to be a dumb ass.

Oh no - please don’t pick me - please don’t pick me…I don’t have a clue what 7X8 is.

There are many reasons why someone can develop maths anxiety. From being taught by a teacher that lacked confidence themselves all the way through to being anxious when being put under pressure, like a timed math exam situation. One of the top reasons however is caused by undiagnosed dyscalculia.

If you’re someone who suffers from math anxiety (rather than Dyscalculia), the good news is you can learn how to control that anxiety. You can practice techniques to free up your working memory so you can perform as well as anyone else as smart as you.

However - if you’re someone who has developed math anxiety because you have dyscalculia, the only way you can improve your anxiety is to learn math in a way that makes sense to your brain. For example - kids with dyscalculia trying to memorise their times tables do not learn in the same way as most kids. This is the reason why Table Fables was created, to help kids gain confidence in maths from the early stages of their math journey. Know the answer = gain confidence. It’s that simple.

A wonderful way in which parents and teachers can help kids who suffer from maths anxiety is to concentrate more on effort and less on results. Children who believe they can learn by making mistakes and by not giving up, are children who will have the confidence to learn. In time they become more resilient learners. The same is true for kids with dyscalculia - with the added methods of teaching in certain ways that will help them understand there is no reason for why kids with anxiety and dyscalculia can’t perform as well or better than anyone else.